Optical configurations for head worn computing

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present invention relate to optical systems in head worn computing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to and is a continuationof the following U.S. patent applications, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety:

U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/160,377, entitled OPTICALCONFIGURATIONS FOR HEAD WORN COMPUTING, filed Jan. 21, 2014

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to head worn computing. More particularly, thisinvention relates to optical systems used in head worn computing.

2. Description of Related Art

Wearable computing systems have been developed and are beginning to becommercialized. Many problems persist in the wearable computing fieldthat need to be resolved to make them meet the demands of the market.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention relate to optical systems in head worncomputing. Aspects relate to the management of “off” pixel light.Aspects relate to absorbing “off” pixel light. Aspects relate toimproved see-through transparency of the HWC optical path to thesurrounding environment. Aspects relate to improved image contrast,brightness, sharpness and other image quality through the management ofstray light. Aspects relate to eye imaging through “off” pixels. Aspectsrelate to security compliance and security compliance tracking througheye imaging. Aspects relate to guest access of a HWC through eyeimaging. Aspects relate to providing system and software access based oneye imaging.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and thedrawings. All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated intheir entirety by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are described with reference to the following Figures. Thesame numbers may be used throughout to reference like features andcomponents that are shown in the Figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a head worn computing system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a head worn computing system with optical system inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a large optical arrangement that is not well suitedfor a compact HWC.

FIG. 3 b illustrates an upper optical module in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an upper optical module in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 4 a illustrates an upper optical module in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an upper optical module in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 5 a illustrates an upper optical module in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates upper and lower optical modules in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates angles of combiner elements in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates upper and lower optical modules in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an eye imaging system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a light source in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 a illustrates a back lighting system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 10 b illustrates a back lighting system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 11 a to 11 d illustrate a light source and filter in accordancewith the principles of the present invention.

FIGS. 12 a to 12 c illustrate a light source and quantum dot system inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, other embodiments would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art and are encompassed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Aspects of the present invention relate to head-worn computing (“HWC”)systems. HWC involves, in some instances, a system that mimics theappearance of head-worn glasses or sunglasses. The glasses may be afully developed computing platform, such as including computer displayspresented in each of the lenses of the glasses to the eyes of the user.In embodiments, the lenses and displays may be configured to allow aperson wearing the glasses to see the environment through the lenseswhile also seeing, simultaneously, digital imagery, which forms anoverlaid image that is perceived by the person as a digitally augmentedimage of the environment, or augmented reality (“AR”).

HWC involves more than just placing a computing system on a person'shead. The system may need to be designed as a lightweight, compact andfully functional computer display, such as wherein the computer displayincludes a high resolution digital display that provides a high level ofemersion comprised of the displayed digital content and the see-throughview of the environmental surroundings. User interfaces and controlsystems suited to the HWC device may be required that are unlike thoseused for a more conventional computer such as a laptop. For the HWC andassociated systems to be most effective, the glasses may be equippedwith sensors to determine environmental conditions, geographic location,relative positioning to other points of interest, objects identified byimaging and movement by the user or other users in a connected group,and the like. The HWC may then change the mode of operation to match theconditions, location, positioning, movements, and the like, in a methodgenerally referred to as a contextually aware HWC. The glasses also mayneed to be connected, wirelessly or otherwise, to other systems eitherlocally or through a network. Controlling the glasses may be achievedthrough the use of an external device, automatically throughcontextually gathered information, through user gestures captured by theglasses sensors, and the like. Each technique may be further refineddepending on the software application being used in the glasses. Theglasses may further be used to control or coordinate with externaldevices that are associated with the glasses.

Referring to FIG. 1, an overview of the HWC system 100 is presented. Asshown, the HWC system 100 comprises a HWC 102, which in this instance isconfigured as glasses to be worn on the head with sensors such that theHWC 102 is aware of the objects and conditions in the environment 114.In this instance, the HWC 102 also receives and interprets controlinputs such as gestures and movements 116. The HWC 102 may communicatewith external user interfaces 104. The external user interfaces 104 mayprovide a physical user interface to take control instructions from auser of the HWC 102 and the external user interfaces 104 and the HWC 102may communicate bi-directionally to affect the user's command andprovide feedback to the external device 108. The HWC 102 may alsocommunicate bi-directionally with externally controlled or coordinatedlocal devices 108. For example, an external user interface 104 may beused in connection with the HWC 102 to control an externally controlledor coordinated local device 108. The externally controlled orcoordinated local device 108 may provide feedback to the HWC 102 and acustomized GUI may be presented in the HWC 102 based on the type ofdevice or specifically identified device 108. The HWC 102 may alsointeract with remote devices and information sources 112 through anetwork connection 110. Again, the external user interface 104 may beused in connection with the HWC 102 to control or otherwise interactwith any of the remote devices 108 and information sources 112 in asimilar way as when the external user interfaces 104 are used to controlor otherwise interact with the externally controlled or coordinatedlocal devices 108. Similarly, HWC 102 may interpret gestures 116 (e.gcaptured from forward, downward, upward, rearward facing sensors such ascamera(s), range finders, IR sensors, etc.) or environmental conditionssensed in the environment 114 to control either local or remote devices108 or 112.

We will now describe each of the main elements depicted on FIG. 1 inmore detail; however, these descriptions are intended to provide generalguidance and should not be construed as limiting. Additional descriptionof each element may also be further described herein.

The HWC 102 is a computing platform intended to be worn on a person'shead. The HWC 102 may take many different forms to fit many differentfunctional requirements. In some situations, the HWC 102 will bedesigned in the form of conventional glasses. The glasses may or may nothave active computer graphics displays. In situations where the HWC 102has integrated computer displays the displays may be configured assee-through displays such that the digital imagery can be overlaid withrespect to the user's view of the environment 114. There are a number ofsee-through optical designs that may be used, including ones that have areflective display (e.g. LCoS, DLP), emissive displays (e.g. OLED, LED),hologram, TIR waveguides, and the like. In addition, the opticalconfiguration may be monocular or binocular. It may also include visioncorrective optical components. In embodiments, the optics may bepackaged as contact lenses. In other embodiments, the HWC 102 may be inthe form of a helmet with a see-through shield, sunglasses, safetyglasses, goggles, a mask, fire helmet with see-through shield, policehelmet with see through shield, military helmet with see-through shield,utility form customized to a certain work task (e.g. inventory control,logistics, repair, maintenance, etc.), and the like.

The HWC 102 may also have a number of integrated computing facilities,such as an integrated processor, integrated power management,communication structures (e.g. cell net, WiFi, Bluetooth, local areaconnections, mesh connections, remote connections (e.g. client server,etc.)), and the like. The HWC 102 may also have a number of positionalawareness sensors, such as GPS, electronic compass, altimeter, tiltsensor, IMU, and the like. It may also have other sensors such as acamera, rangefinder, hyper-spectral camera, Geiger counter, microphone,spectral illumination detector, temperature sensor, chemical sensor,biologic sensor, moisture sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and the like.

The HWC 102 may also have integrated control technologies. Theintegrated control technologies may be contextual based control, passivecontrol, active control, user control, and the like. For example, theHWC 102 may have an integrated sensor (e.g. camera) that captures userhand or body gestures 116 such that the integrated processing system caninterpret the gestures and generate control commands for the HWC 102. Inanother example, the HWC 102 may have sensors that detect movement (e.g.a nod, head shake, and the like) including accelerometers, gyros andother inertial measurements, where the integrated processor mayinterpret the movement and generate a control command in response. TheHWC 102 may also automatically control itself based on measured orperceived environmental conditions. For example, if it is bright in theenvironment the HWC 102 may increase the brightness or contrast of thedisplayed image. In embodiments, the integrated control technologies maybe mounted on the HWC 102 such that a user can interact with itdirectly. For example, the HWC 102 may have a button(s), touchcapacitive interface, and the like.

As described herein, the HWC 102 may be in communication with externaluser interfaces 104. The external user interfaces may come in manydifferent forms. For example, a cell phone screen may be adapted to takeuser input for control of an aspect of the HWC 102. The external userinterface may be a dedicated UI, such as a keyboard, touch surface,button(s), joy stick, and the like. In embodiments, the externalcontroller may be integrated into another device such as a ring, watch,bike, car, and the like. In each case, the external user interface 104may include sensors (e.g. IMU, accelerometers, compass, altimeter, andthe like) to provide additional input for controlling the HWD 104.

As described herein, the HWC 102 may control or coordinate with otherlocal devices 108. The external devices 108 may be an audio device,visual device, vehicle, cell phone, computer, and the like. Forinstance, the local external device 108 may be another HWC 102, whereinformation may then be exchanged between the separate HWCs 108.

Similar to the way the HWC 102 may control or coordinate with localdevices 106, the HWC 102 may control or coordinate with remote devices112, such as the HWC 102 communicating with the remote devices 112through a network 110. Again, the form of the remote device 112 may havemany forms. Included in these forms is another HWC 102. For example,each HWC 102 may communicate its GPS position such that all the HWCs 102know where all of HWC 102 are located.

DLP Optical Configurations

FIG. 2 illustrates a HWC 102 with an optical system that includes anupper optical module 202 and a lower optical module 204. While the upperand lower optical modules 202 and 204 will generally be described asseparate modules, it should be understood that this is illustrative onlyand the present invention includes other physical configurations, suchas that when the two modules are combined into a single module or wherethe elements making up the two modules are configured into more than twomodules. In embodiments, the upper module 202 includes a computercontrolled display (e.g. LCoS, DLP, OLED, etc.) and image light deliveryoptics. In embodiments, the lower module includes eye delivery opticsthat are configured to receive the upper module's image light anddeliver the image light to the eye of a wearer of the HWC. In FIG. 2, itshould be noted that while the upper and lower optical modules 202 and204 are illustrated in one side of the HWC such that image light can bedelivered to one eye of the wearer, that it is envisioned by the presentinvention that embodiments will contain two image light deliverysystems, one for each eye.

FIG. 3 b illustrates an upper optical module 202 in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. In this embodiment, the upperoptical module 202 includes a DLP computer operated display 304 whichincludes pixels comprised of rotatable mirrors, polarized light source302, ¼ wave retarder film 308, reflective polarizer 310 and a field lens312. The polarized light source 302 provides substantially uniform lightthat is generally directed towards the reflective polarizer 310. Thereflective polarizer reflects light of one polarization state (e.g. Spolarized light) and transmits light of the other polarization state(e.g. P polarized light). The polarized light source 302 and thereflective polarizer 310 are oriented so that the polarized light fromthe polarized light source 302 reflected generally towards the DLP 304.The light then passes through the ¼ wave film 308 once beforeilluminating the pixels of the DLP 304 and then again after beingreflected by the pixels of the DLP 304. In passing through the ¼ wavefilm 308 twice, the light is converted from one polarization state tothe other polarization state (e.g. the light is converted from S to Ppolarized light). The light then passes through the reflective polarizer310. In the event that the DLP pixel(s) are in the “on” state (i.e. themirrors are positioned to reflect light back towards the field lens 312,the “on” pixels reflect the light generally along the optical axis andinto the field lens 312. This light that is reflected by “on” pixels andwhich is directed generally along the optical axis of the field lens 312will be referred to as image light 316. The image light 316 then passesthrough the field lens to be used by a lower optical module 204.

The light that is provided by the polarized light source 302, which issubsequently reflected by the reflective polarizer 310 before itreflects from the DLP 304, will generally be referred to as illuminationlight. The light that is reflected by the “off” pixels of the DLP 304 isreflected at a different angle than the light reflected by the ‘on”pixels, so that the light from the “off” pixels is generally directedaway from the optical axis of the field lens 312 and toward the side ofthe upper optical module 202 as shown in FIG. 3. The light that isreflected by the “off” pixels of the DLP 304 will be referred to as darkstate light 314.

The DLP 304 operates as a computer controlled display and is generallythought of as a MEMs device. The DLP pixels are comprised of smallmirrors that can be directed. The mirrors generally flip from one angleto another angle. The two angles are generally referred to as states.When light is used to illuminate the DLP the mirrors will reflect thelight in a direction depending on the state. In embodiments herein, wegenerally refer to the two states as “on” and “off,” which is intendedto depict the condition of a display pixel. “On” pixels will be seen bya viewer of the display as emitting light because the light is directedalong the optical axis and into the field lens and the associatedremainder of the display system. “Off” pixels will be seen by a viewerof the display as not emitting light because the light from these pixelsis directed to the side of the optical housing and into a light dumpwhere the light is absorbed. The pattern of “on” and “off” pixelsproduces image light that is perceived by a viewer of the display as acomputer generated image. Full color images can be presented to a userby sequentially providing illumination light with complimentary colorssuch as red, green and blue. Where the sequence is presented in arecurring cycle that is faster than the user can perceive as separateimages and as a result the user perceives a full color image comprisedof the sum of the sequential images. Bright pixels in the image areprovided by pixels that remain in the “on” state for the entire time ofthe cycle, while dimmer pixels in the image are provided by pixels thatswitch between the “on” state and “off” state within the time of thecycle.

FIG. 3 a shows an illustration of a system for a DLP 304 in which theunpolarized light source 350 is pointed directly at the DLP 304. In thiscase, the angle required for the illumination light is such that thefield lens 352 must be positioned substantially distant from the DLP 304to avoid the illumination light from being clipped by the field lens352. The large distance between the field lens 352 and the DLP 304 alongwith the straight path of the dark state light 352, means that the lighttrap for the dark state light 352 is located at a substantial distancefrom the DLP. For these reasons, this configuration is larger in sizecompared to the upper optics module 202 of the preferred embodiments.

The configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 b can be lightweight and compactsuch that it fits into a portion of a HWC. For example, the uppermodules 202 illustrated herein can be physically adapted to mount in anupper frame of a HWC such that the image light can be directed into alower optical module 204 for presentation of digital content to awearer's eye. The package of components that combine to generate theimage light (i.e. the polarized light source 302, DLP 304, reflectivepolarizer 310 and ¼ wave film 308) is very light and is compact. Theheight of the system, excluding the field lens, may be less than 8 mm.The width (i.e. from front to back) may be less than 8 mm. The weightmay be less than 2 grams. The compactness of this upper optical module202 allows for a compact mechanical design of the HWC and the lightweight nature of these embodiments help make the HWC lightweight toprovide for a HWC that is comfortable for a wearer of the HWC.

The configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 b can produce sharp contrast,high brightness and deep blacks, especially when compared to LCD or LCoSdisplays used in HWC. The “on” and “off” states of the DLP provide for astrong differentiator in the light reflection path representing an “on”pixel and an “off” pixel. As will be discussed in more detail below, thedark state light from the “off” pixel reflections can be managed toreduce stray light in the display system to produce images with highcontrast.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of an upper optical module 202 inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. This embodimentincludes a light source 404, but in this case, the light source canprovide unpolarized illumination light. The illumination light from thelight source 404 is directed into a TIR wedge 418 such that theillumination light is incident on an internal surface of the TIR wedge418 (shown as the angled lower surface of the TRI wedge 418 in FIG. 4)at an angle that is beyond the critical angle as defined by Eqn 1.

Critical angle=arc−sin(1/n)   Eqn 1

Where the critical angle is the angle beyond which the illuminationlight is reflected from the internal surface when the internal surfacecomprises an interface from a solid with a higher refractive index toair with a refractive index of 1 (e.g. for an interface of acrylic, witha refractive index of 1.5, to air, the critical angle is 41.8 degrees;for an interface of polycarbonate, with a refractive index of 1.59, toair the critical angle is 38.9 degrees). Consequently, the TIR wedge 418is associated with a thin air gap 408 along the internal surface tocreate an interface between a solid with a higher refractive index andair. By choosing the angle of the light source 404 relative to the DLP402 in correspondence to the angle of the internal surface of the TIRwedge 418, illumination light is turned toward the DLP 402 at an anglesuitable for providing image light as reflected from “on”pixels.Wherein, the illumination light is provided to the DLP 402 atapproximately twice the angle of the pixel mirrors in the DLP 402 thatare in the “on” state, such that after reflecting from the pixelmirrors, the image light is directed generally along the optical axis ofthe field lens. Depending on the state of the DLP pixels, theillumination light from “on” pixels may be reflected as image light 414which is directed towards a field lens and a lower optical module 204,while illumination light reflected from “off” pixels (dark state light)is directed in a separate direction 410, which may be trapped and notused for the image that is ultimately presented to the wearer's eye.

The light trap may be located along the optical axis defined by thedirection 410 and in the side of the housing, with the function ofabsorbing the dark state light. To this end, the light trap may becomprised of an area outside of the cone of image light from the “on”pixels. The light trap is typically madeup of materials that absorblight including coatings of black paints or other light absorbing toprevent light scattering from the dark state light degrading the imageperceived by the user. In addition, the light trap may be recessed intothe wall of the housing or include masks or guards to block scatteredlight and prevent the light trap from being viewed adjacent to thedisplayed image.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 also includes a corrective wedge 420 to correctthe effect of refraction of the image light 414 as it exits the TIRwedge 418. By including the corrective wedge 420 and providing a thinair gap 408 (e.g. 25 micron), the image light from the “on” pixels canbe maintained generally in a direction along the optical axis of thefield lens so it passes into the field lens and the lower optical module204. As shown in FIG. 4, the image light from the “on” pixels exits thecorrective wedge 420 generally perpendicular to the surface of thecorrective wedge 420 while the dark state light exits at an obliqueangle. As a result, the direction of the image light from the “on”pixels is largely unaffected by refraction as it exits from the surfaceof the corrective wedge 420. In contrast, the dark state light issubstantially changed in direction by refraction when the dark statelight exits the corrective wedge 420.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 has the similar advantages of thosediscussed in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 3 b. The dimensionsand weight of the upper module 202 depicted in FIG. 4 may beapproximately 8×8 mm with a weight of less than 3 grams. A difference inoverall performance between the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 band the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 is that the embodiment ofFIG. 4 doesn't require the use of polarized light as supplied by thelight source 404. This can be an advantage in some situations as will bediscussed in more detail below (e.g. increased see-through transparencyof the HWC optics from the user's perspective). An addition advantage ofthe embodiment of FIG. 4 compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 b isthat the dark state light (shown as DLP off light 410) is directed at asteeper angle away from the optical axis due to the added refractionencountered when the dark state light exits the corrective wedge 420.This steeper angle of the dark state light allows for the light trap tobe positioned closer to the DLP 402 so that the overall size of theupper module 202 can be reduced. The light trap can also be made largersince the light trap doesn't interfere with the field lens, thereby theefficiency of the light trap can be increased and as a result, straylight can be reduced and the contrast of the image perceived by the usercan be increased. FIG. 4 a illustrates the embodiment described inconnection with FIG. 4 with the addition of more details on light anglesat the various surfaces.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of an upper optical module 202in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As with theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 does notrequire the use of polarized light. The optical module 202 depicted inFIG. 5 is similar to that presented in connection with FIG. 4; however,the embodiment of FIG. 5 includes an off light redirection wedge 502. Ascan be seen from the illustration, the off light redirection wedge 502allows the image light 414 to continue generally along the optical axistoward the field lens and into the lower optical module 204 (asillustrated). However, the off light 504 is redirected substantiallytoward the side of the corrective wedge 420 where it passes into thelight trap. This configuration may allow further height compactness inthe HWC because the light trap (not illustrated) that is intended toabsorb the off light 504 can be positioned laterally adjacent the upperoptical module 202 as opposed to below it. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 5 there is a thin air gap between the TIR wedge 418 and thecorrective wedge 420 (similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4). There isalso a thin air gap between the corrective wedge 420 and the off lightredirection wedge 502. There may be HWC mechanical configurations thatwarrant the positioning of a light trap for the dark state lightelsewhere and the illustration depicted in FIG. 5 should be consideredillustrative of the concept that the off light can be redirected tocreate compactness of the overall HWC. FIG. 5 a illustrates theembodiment described in connection with FIG. 5 with the addition of moredetails on light angles at the various surfaces.

FIG. 6 illustrates a combination of an upper optical module 202 with alower optical module 204. In this embodiment, the image light projectedfrom the upper optical module 202 may or may not be polarized. The imagelight is reflected off a flat combiner element 602 such that it isdirected towards the user's eye. Wherein, the combiner element 602 is apartial mirror that reflects image light while transmitting asubstantial portion of light from the environment so the user can lookthrough the combiner element and see the environment surrounding theHWC.

The combiner 602 may include a holographic pattern, to form aholographic mirror. If a monochrome image is desired, there may be asingle wavelength reflection design for the holographic pattern on thesurface of the combiner 602. If the intention is to have multiple colorsreflected from the surface of the combiner 602, a multiple wavelengthholographic mirror maybe included on the combiner surface. For example,in a three color embodiment, where red, green and blue pixels aregenerated in the image light, the holographic mirror may be reflectiveto wavelengths matching the wavelengths of the red, green and blue lightprovided by the light source. This configuration can be used as awavelength specific mirror where pre-determined wavelengths of lightfrom the image light are reflected to the user's eye. This configurationmay also be made such that substantially all other wavelengths in thevisible pass through the combiner element 602 so the user has asubstantially clear view of the surroundings when looking through thecombiner element 602. The transparency between the user's eye and thesurrounding may be approximately 80% when using a combiner that is aholographic mirror. Wherein holographic mirrors can be made using lasersto produce interference patterns in the holographic material of thecombiner where the wavelengths of the lasers correspond to thewavelengths of light that are subsequently reflected by the holographicmirror.

In another embodiment, the combiner element 602 may include a notchmirror comprised of a multilayer coated substrate wherein the coating isdesigned to substantially reflect the wavelengths of light provided bythe light source and substantially transmit the remaining wavelengths inthe visible spectrum. For example, in the case where red, green and bluelight is provided by the light source to enable full color images to beprovided to the user, the notch mirror is a tristimulus notch mirrorwherein the multilayer coating is designed to reflect narrow bands ofred, green and blue light that are matched to the what is provided bythe light source and the remaining visible wavelengths are transmittedto enable a view of the environment through the combiner. In anotherexample where monochrome images are provide to the user, the notchmirror is designed to reflect a narrow band of light that is matched tothe wavelengths of light provided by the light source while transmittingthe remaining visible wavelengths to enable a see-thru view of theenvironment. The combiner 602 with the notch mirror would operate, fromthe user's perspective, in a manner similar to the combiner thatincludes a holographic pattern on the combiner element 602. Thecombiner, with the tristimulus notch mirror, would reflect the “on”pixels to the eye because of the match between the reflectivewavelengths of the notch mirror and the color of the image light, andthe wearer would be able to see with high clarity the surroundings. Thetransparency between the user's eye and the surrounding may beapproximately 80% when using the tristimulus notch mirror. In addition,the image provided by the upper optical module 202 with the notch mirrorcombiner can provide higher contrast images than the holographic mirrorcombiner due to less scattering of the imaging light by the combiner.

Light can escape through the combiner 602 and may produce face glow asthe light is generally directed downward onto the cheek of the user.When using a holographic mirror combiner or a tristimulus notch mirrorcombiner, the escaping light can be trapped to avoid face glow. Inembodiments, if the image light is polarized before the combiner, alinear polarizer can be laminated, or otherwise associated, to thecombiner, with the transmission axis of the polarizer oriented relativeto the polarized image light so that any escaping image light isabsorbed by the polarizer. In embodiments, the image light would bepolarized to provide S polarized light to the combiner for betterreflection. As a result, the linear polarizer on the combiner would beoriented to absorb S polarized light and pass P polarized light. Thisprovides the preferred orientation of polarized sunglasses as well.

If the image light is unpolarized, a microlouvered film such as aprivacy filter can be used to absorb the escaping image light whileproviding the user with a see-thru view of the environment. In thiscase, the absorbance or transmittance of the microlouvered film isdependent on the angle of the light. Where steep angle light is absorbedand light at less of an angle is transmitted. For this reason, in anembodiment, the combiner with the microlouver film is angled at greaterthan 45 degrees to the optical axis of the image light (e.g. thecombiner can be oriented at 50 degrees so the image light from the filelens is incident on the combiner at an oblique angle.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a combiner element 602 at variousangles when the combiner element 602 includes a holographic mirror.Normally, a mirrored surface reflects light at an angle equal to theangle that the light is incident to the mirrored surface. Typically thisnecessitates that the combiner element be at 45 degrees, 602 a, if thelight is presented vertically to the combiner so the light can bereflected horizontally towards the wearer's eye. In embodiments, theincident light can be presented at angles other than vertical to enablethe mirror surface to be oriented at other than 45 degrees, but in allcases wherein a mirrored surface is employed, the incident angle equalsthe reflected angle. As a result, increasing the angle of the combiner602 a requires that the incident image light be presented to thecombiner 602 a at a different angle which positions the upper opticalmodule 202 to the left of the combiner as shown in FIG. 7. In contrast,a holographic mirror combiner, included in embodiments, can be made suchthat light is reflected at a different angle from the angle that thelight is incident onto the holographic mirrored surface. This allowsfreedom to select the angle of the combiner element 602 b independent ofthe angle of the incident image light and the angle of the lightreflected into the wearer's eye. In embodiments, the angle of thecombiner element 602 b is greater than 45 degrees (shown in FIG. 7) asthis allows a more laterally compact HWC design. The increased angle ofthe combiner element 602 b decreases the front to back width of thelower optical module 204 and may allow for a thinner HWC display (i.e.the furthest element from the wearer's eye can be closer to the wearer'sface).

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a lower optical module 204. Inthis embodiment, polarized image light provided by the upper opticalmodule 202, is directed into the lower optical module 204. The imagelight reflects off a polarized mirror 804 and is directed to a focusingpartially reflective mirror 802, which is adapted to reflect thepolarized light. An optical element such as a ¼ wave film locatedbetween the polarized mirror 804 and the partially reflective mirror802, is used to change the polarization state of the image light suchthat the light reflected by the partially reflective mirror 802 istransmitted by the polarized mirror 804 to present image light to theeye of the wearer. The user can also see through the polarized mirror804 and the partially reflective mirror 802 to see the surroundingenvironment. As a result, the user perceives a combined image comprisedof the displayed image light overlaid onto the see-thru view of theenvironment.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to eye imaging. Inembodiments, a camera is used in connection with an upper optical module202 such that the wearer's eye can be imaged using pixels in the “off”state on the DLP. FIG. 9 illustrates a system where the eye imagingcamera 802 is mounted and angled such that the field of view of the eyeimaging camera 802 is redirected toward the wearer's eye by the mirrorpixels of the DLP 402 that are in the “off” state. In this way, the eyeimaging camera 802 can be used to image the wearer's eye along the sameoptical axis as the displayed image that is presented to the wearer.Wherein, image light that is presented to the wearer's eye illuminatesthe wearer's eye so that the eye can be imaged by the eye imaging camera802. In the process, the light reflected by the eye passes back thoughthe optical train of the lower optical module 204 and a portion of theupper optical module to where the light is reflected by the “off” pixelsof the DLP 402 toward the eye imaging camera 802.

In embodiments, the eye imaging camera may image the wearer's eye at amoment in time where there are enough “off” pixels to achieve therequired eye image resolution. In another embodiment, the eye imagingcamera collects eye image information from “off” pixels over time andforms a time lapsed image. In another embodiment, a modified image ispresented to the user wherein enough “off” state pixels are includedthat the camera can obtain the desired resolution and brightness forimaging the wearer's eye and the eye image capture is synchronized withthe presentation of the modified image.

The eye imaging system may be used for security systems. The HWC may notallow access to the HWC or other system if the eye is not recognized(e.g. through eye characteristics including retina or irischaracteristics, etc.). The HWC may be used to provide constant securityaccess in some embodiments. For example, the eye security confirmationmay be a continuous, near-continuous, real-time, quasi real-time,periodic, etc. process so the wearer is effectively constantly beingverified as known. In embodiments, the HWC may be worn and eye securitytracked for access to other computer systems.

The eye imaging system may be used for control of the HWC. For example,a blink, wink, or particular eye movement may be used as a controlmechanism for a software application operating on the HWC or associateddevice.

The eye imaging system may be used in a process that determines how orwhen the HWC 102 delivers digitally displayed content to the wearer. Forexample, the eye imaging system may determine that the user is lookingin a direction and then HWC may change the resolution in an area of thedisplay or provide some content that is associated with something in theenvironment that the user may be looking at. Alternatively, the eyeimaging system may identify different user's and change the displayedcontent or enabled features provided to the user. User's may beidentified from a database of users eye characteristics either locatedon the HWC 102 or remotely located on the network 110 or on a server112. In addition, the HWC may identify a primary user or a group ofprimary users from eye characteristics wherein the primary user(s) areprovided with an enhanced set of features and all other user's areprovided with a different set of features. Thus in this use case, theHWC 102 uses identified eye characteristics to either enable features ornot and eye characteristics need only be analyzed in comparison to arelatively small database of individual eye characteristics.

FIG. 10 illustrates a light source that may be used in association withthe upper optics module 202 (e.g. polarized light source if the lightfrom the solid state light source is polarized), and light source 404.In embodiments, to provide a uniform surface of light 1008 to bedirected towards the DLP of the upper optical module, either directly orindirectly, the solid state light source 1002 may be projected into abacklighting optical system 1004. The solid state light source 1002 maybe one or more LEDs, laser diodes, OLEDs. In embodiments, thebacklighting optical system 1004 includes an extended section with alength/distance ratio of greater than 3, wherein the light undergoesmultiple reflections from the sidewalls to mix of homogenize the lightas supplied by the solid state light source 1002. The backlightingoptical system 1004 also includes structures on the surface opposite (onthe left side as shown in FIG. 10) to where the uniform light 1008 exitsthe backlight 1004 to change the direction of the light toward the DLP302 and the reflective polarizer 310 or the DLP 402 and the TIR wedge418. The backlighting optical system 1004 may also include structures tocollimate the uniform light 1008 to provide light to the DLP with asmaller angular distribution or narrower cone angle. Diffusers includingelliptical diffusers can be used on the entrance or exit surfaces of thebacklighting optical system to improve the uniformity of the uniformlight 1008 in directions orthogonal to the optical axis of the uniformlight 1008.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b show illustrations of structures in backlightoptical systems 1004 that can be used to change the direction of thelight provided to the entrance face 1045 by the light source and thencollimates the light in a direction lateral to the optical axis of theexiting uniform light 1008. Structure 1060 includes an angled sawtoothpattern wherein the left edge of each sawtooth clips the steep anglerays of light thereby limiting the angle of the light being redirected.The steep surface at the right (as shown)of each sawtooth then redirectsthe light so that it reflects off the left angled surface of eachsawtooth and is directed toward the exit surface 1040. Structure 1050includes a curved face on the left side (as shown) to focus the raysafter they pass through the exit surface 1040, thereby providing amechanism for collimating the uniform light 1008.

FIG. 11 a illustrates a light source 1100 that may be used inassociation with the upper optics module 202. In embodiments, the lightsource 1100 may provide light to a backlighting optical system 1004 asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 10. In embodiments, the lightsource 1100 includes a tristimulus notch filter 1102. The tristimulusnotch filter 1102 has narrow band pass filters for three wavelengths, asindicated in FIG. 11 c in a transmission graph 1108. The graph shown inFIG. 11 b, as 1104 illustrates an output of three different coloredLEDs. One can see that the bandwidths of emission are narrow, but theyhave long tails. The tristimulus notch filter 1102 can be used inconnection with such LEDs to provide a light source 1100 that emitsnarrow filtered wavelengths of light as shown in FIG. 11 d as thetransmission graph 1110. Wherein the clipping effects of the tristimulusnotch filter 1102 can be seen to have cut the tails from the LEDemission graph 1104 to provide narrower wavelength bands of light to theupper optical module 202. The light source 1100 can be used inconnection with a combiner 602 with a holographic mirror or tristimulusnotch mirror to provide narrow bands of light that are reflected towardthe wearer's eye with less waste light that does not get reflected bythe combiner, thereby improving efficiency and reducing escaping lightthat can cause faceglow.

FIG. 12 a illustrates another light source 1200 that may be used inassociation with the upper optics module 202. In embodiments, the lightsource 1200 may provide light to a backlighting optical system 1004 asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 10. In embodiments, the lightsource 1200 includes a quantum dot cover glass 1202. Where the quantumdots absorb light of a shorter wavelength and emit light of a longerwavelength (FIG. 12 b shows an example wherein a UV spectrum 1202applied to a quantum dot results in the quantum dot emitting a narrowband shown as a PL spectrum 1204) that is dependent on the materialmakeup and size of the quantum dot. As a result, quantum dots in thequantum dot cover glass 1202 can be tailored to provide one or morebands of narrow bandwidth light (e.g. red, green and blue emissionsdependent on the different quantum dots included as illustrated in thegraph shown in FIG. 12 c where three different quantum dots are used. Inembodiments, the LED driver light emits UV light, deep blue or bluelight. For sequential illumination of different colors, multiple lightsources 1200 would be used where each light source 1200 would include aquantum dot cover glass 1202 with a quantum dot selected to emit at oneof the desired colors. The light source 1100 can be used in connectionwith a combiner 602 with a holographic mirror or tristimulus notchmirror to provide narrow transmission bands of light that are reflectedtoward the wearer's eye with less waste light that does not getreflected.

Although embodiments of HWC have been described in language specific tofeatures, systems, computer processes and/or methods, the appendedclaims are not necessarily limited to the specific features, systems,computer processes and/or methods described. Rather, the specificfeatures, systems, computer processes and/or and methods are disclosedas non-limited example implementations of HWC. All documents referencedherein are hereby incorporated by reference.

We claim:
 1. A head-worn computer, comprising: a. an image lightproduction facility including a platform including a plurality ofmulti-positional mirrors; b. a lighting facility adapted to produce anarrow bandwidth of visible illumination light to substantiallyuniformly illuminate the platform; c. wherein each of themulti-positional mirrors has a first state positioned to reflect aportion of the illumination light, forming image light, on an opticalaxis in-line with a holographic mirror; d. the holographic mirroradapted to reflect a substantial portion of the narrow bandwidth of theimage light directly, without further reflections, towards an eye of aperson wearing the head-worn computer; and e. the holographic mirrorfurther adapted to transmit substantially all visible spectrum lightother than the narrow bandwidths of the image light to provide hightransmissivity of light from a surrounding environment.
 2. The head-worncomputer of claim 1, wherein the holographic mirror is positioned at anangle with respect to a front surface of the platform, wherein the angleis greater than 45 degrees.
 3. The head-worn computer of claim 1,wherein the holographic mirror is adapted to reflect a plurality ofvisible bandwidths of light and transmit substantially all other visiblebandwidths other than the plurality of reflected visible bandwidths oflight.
 4. The head-worn computer of claim 3, wherein the holographicmirror transmits a majority of surrounding environment light incident onthe holographic mirror.
 5. The head-worn computer of claim 3, whereinthe lighting facility produces a narrow bandwidth of light with aquantum dot illumination facility.
 6. The head-worn computer of claim 3,wherein the lighting facility produces a narrow bandwidth of light witha light emitting diode lighting facility.
 7. The head-worn computer ofclaim 3, wherein the lighting facility produces a diffuse cone of lightwith a backlit illumination facility.
 8. The head-worn computer of claim1, wherein each of the multi-positional mirrors has a second statepositioned to reflect portions of the illumination light on an opticalaxis off-line with the eye of the person wearing the head-worn computer,wherein the off-line optical axis terminates at a light absorptionfacility.
 9. The head-worn computer of claim 8, further comprising asolid optic positioned to redirect the off-line optical axis to aposition proximate a second side of the platform, creating a verticallycompact head-worn computer.
 10. The head-worn computer of claim 1,further comprising an eye imaging camera positioned to image the eye ofthe person wearing the head-worn computer by capturing light reflectedoff a subset of the plurality of mirrors wherein the subset of theplurality of mirrors are in a second state.